The general consensus among the car people I know is that there are 3
different categories of tools. SnapOn, Craftsman and cheap tools.
SnapOn is the choice of all the professionals I know. Craftsman makes
good tools and they are unconditionally guaranteed - but they don't hold
up to strenuous professional use - and these guys can't afford to be
down for a split socket. Once you get yourself a SnapOn distributor, he
can get you just about any tool you could possibly need. I stick with
SnapOn because they still have quality Whitworth wrenches and sockets
for my TCs. They have a nice selection of 1/4" drive 6pt sockets I
really like. For most of us amateurs, thought Craftsman is a good
choice if they have what you need. The selection doesn't seem to be as
good as it once was. I have a set of long metric boxend wrenches that I
can't get replacements for the ones that have somehow walked off. As
for the rest, if there is a tool that you figure that you might need
once every 5 or 10 years, go ahead and buy a cheap one. By the time you
need it again, you will have lost or misplaced it and will need to buy
another one anyway.
Yours,
Charles Hill
49 & 46 TCs, 75 Porsche & 68 VW Dunebuggy
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